Vettori, Ryder resurrect New Zealand (Third Lead)

Hamilton, March 18 (IANS) Half-centuries from Jesse Ryder and skipper Daniel Vettori helped New Zealand recover from a poor start and get to 162 for six in the first innings at tea against India on the first day of the first Test match here Wednesday. Vettori was batting on 64 and Ryder scored his fourth consecutive half-century as New Zealand scored at a brisk rate to get 101 runs in the second session after they were reduced to 60/6 in the morning.

The unbeaten century-run stand between Vettori and Ryder gave New Zealand hopes of a revival after India’s pace trio Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma and Munaf Patel backed their captain’s decision in a sensational morning session at Seddon Park.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni said after winning the toss that he wanted his bowlers to bowl on a fresh pitch if his side has to take 20 wickets to win a Test. And the muggy conditions and a greenish top seemed to justify the decision.

Zaheer, Ishant and Munaf ripped through the New Zealand top order applying tremendous pressure on the batsmen.

Zaheer struck, taking two wickets in four balls, and then Ishant claimed three in a jiffy coming on for his second spell. Munaf was rewarded for his terrific line and length when he forced the dangerous Brendon McCullum to poke at one that left him to be caught at second slip by V.V.S. Laxman.

At the lunch break, the home team were left with only Ryder to try and retrieve the situation with Vettori, who said he would have batted had he won the toss, and tail to follow.

Ryder was in no mood to give in and played aggressive shots. Two superb drives off Ishant set the tone of Ryder’s innings and he was not tempted to go for everything outside the off-stump.

Vettori on the other end looked in a hurry and top-edged a pull off Zaheer behind Dhoni to bring up the 100. The New Zealand captain pulled and drove Munaf for fours with ease. Another inside-edged four off Munaf brought up his half-century from 85 balls. Vettori hit nine fours and a six while Ryder hit seven fours during his stay.

Ryder got to his half-century in the last over before tea to see the second session through and atoned for the dismal performance of the top-order.

Earlier, the start of the innings did not suggest that the pitch had any devil in it though Zaheer and Ishant got the ball to wobble a bit.

Tim McIntosh looked overcautious, but debutant Martin Guptill did not show any nerves. All the same the runs were hard to come by and there was an air of expectancy.

Zaheer began the rout when he found the edge of Guptill’s bat and third-slip Rahul Dravid dived to his left in front of Laxman to come up with the catch at the second attempt. It was Rahul’s 181st catch and he now shares the world record for catches with Australian Mark Waugh.

Zaheer’s next victim was Daniel Flynn whose intended leg glance ended in a caught-behind for Dhoni to give the left-arm bowler his 199th Test wicket.

Had Virender Sehwag not grassed Ross Taylor off Ishant at gully, despite being in a position to grab it twice, the Black Caps’ plight would have been much worse.

Taylor started to stroke the ball well to make the Indians wonder if they would pay for the lapse. Zaheer seemed to have had an extended spell as he showed signs of flagging as McIntosh and Taylor looked comfortable.

Ishant returned to bowl and McIntosh’s attempt to steer went straight to the first of two gullies, Sehwag. Now the heat was really on even though the new batsman Ryder tried to be cool.

With Munaf pegging away to mount the pressure, Ishant struck again as Taylor could not negotiate a terrific delivery which took his off stump nicking the pad first on the way.

Ishant was lucky to get his third wicket as James Franklin, staging a comeback to Test cricket, was ruled caught behind by Simon Taufel, though replays clearly showed that the ball had kissed the back pad with the bat nowhere near it.

Half the New Zealand batting was back for 51 runs and when McCullum followed them and Vettori walked in, the situation was grim.

Dhoni’s decision to bowl came as a bit of a surprise, but he defended it, saying that it is better to bowl when the wicket is fresh and then bat when the conditions are the best on the second and third day.

India have strengthened their batting by bringing in former captain Dravid and Laxman who were not part of the One-Day squad. Both have played hundred plus Tests.